Salsa #1 Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com

BASS LESSONS —— SALSA #1


Im going to teach you ow to play salsa in 3 different ways, 
each riff has a higher difficulty of playing and as you will see they also have alterations.


#1

Here's the basic riff 

G|——————————5—————————————|
D|——5———3—————————————————|
A|————5——————3————3——3—5——|
E|——————————————3—————————|


#2

Here's the first alteration watch as the intro is played faster 

G|————————————————————————————|
D|——5—5———3———5———————————————|
A|———5——5———————33————5——3—5——|
E|——————————————————3—————————|


#3

In this final alteration were gonna play slapping and popping, 

Now if youre not familiar with the term slap is when you literally slap your 
thumb against the first string and then pop is when you pull the string upwards 
as if you were trying to pull it out of its frets, but dont pull it to hard you might snap it off.


Quick reference heres a slapping and pop example so that you have a good idea 
of how to do it yourself when you see it in the tab:

S = Slap
P = Pop

(THIS IS THE BASS RIFF FOR RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS'S CANT STOP) 

G|—————7—9——|———————7—99——————7—9———————7—99————|
D|——————————|———————————————————————————————————|
A|——7———————|——7—7———————7—5———————7—7———————7——|
E|——————————|———————————————————————————————————|
    S  P P     S S  P PP S S  P P  S S  P PP S  


NOW THAT YOU'VE LEARN THE SLAP AND POP TERM HERE'S THE EXERCERCISE RIFF:


G|————4——————2———————————|———9——————9———9————|
D|———————————————————————|———————————————————|
A|———————————————————————|———————————————————|
E|——3————3—1———111——1—3/—|—8————888———8———8——|
    S P  S S P SSS  S S    S P  SSS P S P S 


FOR MORE TABS, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, OR REQUESTS. 
EMAIL ME AT: [email protected] OR JOIN BIGBASSTABS.com(DANNYBASSMAN93) 
and Message me for bass tab request

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

Strings and Frets:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:
- The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
- The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|---3---------------|
E|-------------------|
            
```
This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

Hammer-On (h):
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5h7---------|
            
```
Pull-Off (p):
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------7p5---------|
            
```
Slide (/ or \):
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5/7---------|
            
```

3. Advanced Techniques

Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸

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Bass Lessons — Salsa #1 bass tabs